News

Auckland won their first ever national provincial korfball tournament at Christchurch’s Pioneer Stadium today, emerging unbeaten through the weekend against the other seven competing teams, beating defending champion Canterbury 7-5 in the round robin’s final match.

The speed of the Auckland female players and the height of their male counterparts was used to great effect in a tense finale that was generally dominated by defence. Auckland’s poise from both free passes and penalties was a telling factor in their favour by the end of the game as they converted more of their opportunities within the circle than their rival.

Canterbury B finished third on the table, ruing their narrow loss to eventual champion Auckland A yesterday morning, but suffering a similar setback against the Canterbury A team today in match blighted by the loss of their dominant scorer, Liesbeth van Bruchem, who ruptured an Achilles tendon.

Wellington finished fourth after a close win over fifth placed Counties Manukau, with the newcomer Otago team, which made great progress in their first tournament, ending in sixth, ahead of Auckland B.

MVP awards went to Andy Hamilton of Auckland (male) and Gee Friedman of Counties Manukau (female).

Day two scores:
Canterbury B 12 vs. Wellington 4
Counties Manukau 8 vs. Canterbury A 18
Canterbury B 16 vs. Auckland B 0
Auckland A 5 vs. Wellington 1
Canterbury A 10 vs. Canterbury B 4
Otago 3 vs. Auckland A 7
Auckland B 2 vs. Counties Manukau 7
Canterbury B 11 vs. Otago 4
Wellington 7 vs. Counties Manukau 5
Canterbury A 5 vs. Auckland A 7

Final standings
Team Played Win Loss Draw Bye For Against Diff Points
Auckland A 7 6 0 0 1 49 18 31 28
Canterbury A 7 5 1 0 1 83 23 60 24
Canterbury B 7 4 2 0 1 57 25 32 20
Wellington 7 3 3 0 1 22 41 -19 16
Counties Manukau 7 2 4 0 1 36 52 -16 12
Otago 7 1 5 0 1 21 40 -19 8
Auckland B 7 0 6 0 1 4 73 -69 4